Apparatus for making reinforced rubber belting



Sept 13 1966 F. PAASCHE APPARATUS FOR MAKING REINFORCED RUBBER BELTING 5Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed April 24 1961 su S M mv INVENTOR. /JP/rzP44627@- Sept. 13, 1966 F. PAAscHE 3,272,680

APPARATUS FOR MAKING REINFORCED RUBBER BELTING Original Filed April 24,1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: ,4P/IZ 234/455616' F. PAASCHE sept. 13,1966 APPARATUS FOR MAKING REINFORCED RUBBER BELTING 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Original Filed April 24. 1961 .NWS

mvENTom /P//Z 77745645 BY /ufymg .fA/zf United States Patent O 3,272,680APPARATUS FOR MAKING REINFORCED RUBBER BELTING Fritz Paasche,Cologne-Weidenpesch, Germany, assigner to Franz Clouth RheinischeGummiwarenfahrik Aktiengesellschaft, Cologne-Nippes, Germany (lriginalapplication Apr. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 105,037. Di-

vided and this application Mar. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 443,774 Claimspriority, application Germany, April 25, 1960, C 21,294; Feb. 3, 1961, C23,333 12 Claims. (Cl. 156-494) The present invention relates to cordconstruction belting in general, and more particularly to an apparatusfor the production of cord construction belting which `consists ofrubber or a similarrubber material and which cornprises longitudinallyextending metallic reinforcing wires or cables, hereinafter calledcords.

The present application is a ldivision of my copending applicationSerial No. 105,087, filed April 24, 1961, now abandoned and entitled,Process and Apparatus for the Production of Reinforced Belting.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus for thepractice of my process which is constructed and assembled in such a waythat the tension of each individual cord may be adjusted independentlyof the other cords and which is capable of coating substantial lengthsof reinforcing cords in a continuous operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for theproduction of belting for use in belt conveyors and the like which maybe operated in a fully automatic Way, which can be handled bysemi-skilled personnel, and which can be conveniently and rapidlyadapted for the production of differently dimensioned and differentlyreinforced belting.

With the above and certain other objects in View, the improved apparatuscomprises assembly means including spaced first and second tensioningmeans for the cords, belt producing means including a coating presswhich is located between the rst and second tensioning means and whichnot only covers the cords with a layer of rubbery material butpreferably also for-ces the material into the spaces between theadjacent cords. The coating operation may be performed by moving thepress longitudinally of the cords or by moving the assembly means andthe tensioned cords with respect to the press. The vulcanizing presswhich forms part of the belt producing means is located between thecoating press and one of the tensioning means, and the vulcanizedbelting is collected by a drum or like take-up means located at one endof the apparatus.

The novel features which are considered as chara-cteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following detailed description of certainspecic embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view of an apparatus forthe practice of my process;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top plan View of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a similar top plan View of the apparatus, showing the coatingand vulcanizing presses in a different position;

FIG. 4 is a further top plan view of the apparatus with the presses inthe position of FIG. 3 and with the collecting drum moved to the right;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of a modified apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic top plan view of the modified apparatus.

3,272,680y Patented Sept. 13, 1966 lCC Referring now in greater detailto the illustrated ernbodiments, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there isshown an apparatus for the production of cord construction belting whichconsists of rubber or rubbery synthetic plast-ic material, and whosereinforcing cords consist of cables or wires 2 made of steel or anothermetal. For example, the belting may be reinforced by cords having adiameter of about 5 mm. The apparatus comprises a supply or source ofcords here shown in the form of reels 1, one for each cord, these reelsbeing disposed at one longitudinal end of the apparatus and beingsupported on a suitable frame 1a. The axes of the reels 1 areperpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the reinforced belting Bwhich is produced in the apparatus. Itis assumed that the belting Bcomprises only six steel cords 2 which are disposed in a common plane sothat they form a single row. Of course, it will be readily understood asthis description proceeds that the apparatus may be conveniently adaptedfor the production of belting comprising `a higher number of cords 2which may be arranged in two or more rows or which may be staggered withrespect to each other. The cross-section and the number of cords 2depends on the required strength characteristics of the belting B,namely, on the intended use of the finished product. In actualmanufacture, the belting usually comprises between 50 and 300 cords,depending on the width or the belting, and the cords are preferablyclosely adjacent to each other and are arranged in a common plane. Owingto such large numbers of cords, the reels 1 are normally staggered inthe longitudinal direction of the apparatus and are mounted on theirframe at different elevations from the ground.

The cords 2 are led from their respective reels 1 over a grooved spacerroller or comb 3 which is located in advance of a rst locking orclamp-ing device in the form of a stationary strainer 4, the latterbeing assumed to be in open position. After passing through the strainer4, the cords 2 are led through a tensioning arrangement 5 whichcomprises a group of tensioning rolls for each cord. Each groupcomprises three rolls 5a, 5b, 5c with the outer rolls 5a, 5c fixed andwith the median roll 5b reciprocable with respect to the rolls 5a, 5c soas to increase the tension of the respective cord when moved upwardlyand to relax the tension of the respective cord when moved in downwarddirection. It will be noted that the groups of tensioning rolls 5cl-5cfor the adjacent cords are staggered with respect to each other. This isoften necessary because the cords are closely adjacent to each other.

Rearwardly of the tensioning arrangement 5, there is provided a secondlocking or clamping means in the form of a stationary strainer '7. Thisstrainer supports a second grooved spacer roller or comb 6 whosefunction is to insure that the cords 2 remain in predetermined spacedrelationship with respect to each other when they pass from thetension-ing rolls 5u5c through the slot or gap of the second strainer 7.It is assumed that the strainer 7 is open.

The apparatus `further comprises a belt producing, or applicator, meansshown in the form of a press 10 which is provided with a wheel-mountedcarriage or truck 10a and which supports at its front (right-hand) sidea third grooved spacer yroller or comb 3. The `rollers 6 and 8 togetherconstitute means for maintaining a predetermined length of cords 2 inparallelism with each other.

The rubbery layer or coat consists of sections 17a, 17b which arerespectively paid out by two supply rollers 9a, 9b mounted on the press10 so that the row of cords 2 is received between the sections 17a, 17bimmediately after the cords pass over the third spacer roller 8. Thepress 10 transforms the sections 17a, 17b and the row of cords 2 into apreformed or prefabricated belt B which, if the layers 17a, 1'7b consistof vulcanizable rubber or rubbery material, thereupon passes through ahorizontal vulcanizing press 11 to emerge therefrom in the form offinished belting B. The vulcanizing press 11 also comprises awheel-mounted carriage or truck 11a which is reciprocable alongelongated guideways shown in FIG. 1 as rails 16. The means for movingthe presses 10, 11 along the guideways 16 (preferably independently ofeach other) may comprise suitable motors or the like, not shown.

Rearwardly of the vulcanizing press 11, there is provided a secondtensioning arrangement 12 which, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4,comprises three transversely extending tensioning rollers 12A-12Cmounted on a wheel-supported carriage or truck 12a, the latter adaptedto travel along the guideways 16. It is assumed that the tensioningarrangement 12 is in operative position in that the median roller 12B ismoved downwardly from its normal position with respect to the outerrollers 12A, 12C so that the belting B which passes about and beneaththe median roller 12B is subjected to a predetermined tension. The axesof the rollers 12A-12C are perpendicular to the longitudinal directionof the cords 2.

Adjacent to and located past the second tensioning arrangement 12, thereis provided a third strainer 13 which is assumed to be closed, that is,in locking position, and which comprises a wheel-mounted carriage ortruck 13a. The strainer 13 is preferably coupled with the tensioningarrangement 12 so that they may move in unison along the guideways 16.The provision of the second tensioning arrangement 12 is considerednecessary in many instances because the frictional engagement of thestrainer 13 with the vulcanized belting B is often insuicient tomaintain the belting in properly tensioned condition. Also, the strainer13 might damage the belting if at least some tensional stresses are nottaken up by the tensioning arrangement 12. However, and particularly ifthe cords 2 are subjected to comparatively small longitudinal tension,the tensioning arrangement 12 may be dispensed with so that the beltingB is then tensioned only by the strainer 13. The belting B passingthrough the gap or slot of the strainer 13 is collected on a take-upmeans in the form of a take-up drum 14 which comprises a wheel-mountedcarriage or truck 14a. The three leftmost wheel-mounted devices 12, 13and 14 are connected with a reciprocating or moving means here shown asa winch 15 which is stationary and which is located at the rearmost endof the apparatus, namely, at the left-hand end of the guideways 16, asviewed in FIG. 1. The connection between the winch 15 and the devices12, 13, 14 comprises one or more cables or chains 18.

The production of belting B is carried out in the following manner:

The strainer 4 is closed to firmly clamp and to lock the cords 2, andthe Winch 15 is operated to move the devices 12, 13, 14 in a directionto the left through a distance necessary to subject a predeterminedlength of cords 2 to a given tension. The tensioning arrangement l2 isoperative and the strainer 13 is closed. In the next step, the medianrolls 5b of the tensioning arrangement 5 are moved in upward directionto the extent necessary to insure that each cord 2 is subjected to apredetermined (preferably uniform) tension. As shown in FIG. 1, thecords pass beneath the outer tensioning rolls 5a, 5c but above themedian tensioning rolls 5b. When the cords are subjected to apreselected tension, the operator causes the strainer 7 to engage therow of cords and to prevent any changes in tension during the ensuingstages of the operation. The press 10 is then moved in a direction tothe right (see FIG. 3) toward and into close proximity of the strainer7. This results in the formation of a prefabricated belt B which isformed at the same rate of speed at which the press 10 is moved to theright. The belt B extends between the presses 10, 11. The press 10comprises cutting means 19a, 19b for trimming the longitudinal edges ofthe prefabricated belt B' as the press 10 moves intermittently towardthe strainer 7 so that the prefabricated belt at the left-hand side ofthe press is of uniform width. The vulcanizing press 11 follows therightward movement of the press 10 but it need not be connectedtherewith, and vulcanizes the belt B to transform the same into iinishedbelting B.

When the press 10 is moved all the way to the right and into closeproximity of the strainer 7 to assume the position of FIG. 3, thetensioning arrangement 12 is operated by moving the median roller 12B indownward direction and by unlocking the outer rollers 12A, 12C so thatthe outer tensioning rollers are free to rotate. The strainer 13 isopened and the devices 12, 13, 14 are moved to the right (see FIG. 4)whereby the take-up drum 14 collects the belting B as it moves in adirection toward the vulcanizing press 11. In the next step, theoperator releases the tensioning rolls 5b, and opens the strainers 4, 7so that predetermined lengths of cords 2 may be paid out by therespective reels 1.

In order to unwind a second predetermined length of cords from the reels1, the operator again locks the outer tensioning rollers 12A, 12C byapplying suitable brakes, not shown, and moves the median tensioningroller 12B to its tensioning position. The operator then closes thestrainer 13 by making sure that the row of cords is located exactlymidway between the guideways 16. If the winch 15 is then operated in adirection that the cables 18 move the devices 12, 13, 14 to the left,and if the presses 10, 11 are also moved to the left, that is,substantially to the position of FIG. 1, a preselected new length ofcords 2 extending between the press 10 and the strainer 7 is ready forcoating and, if necessary, vulcanizing. The operation is then repeatedby closing the strainer 7, by moving the tensioning arrangement 12slightly to the left to subject the cords to a given tension, byoperating the tensioning rolls 5b in a sense to equalize or to otherwiseprecisely adjust the tension of the individual cords, by moving thepress 10 and the vulcanizing press 11 to the right, and so forth.

If desired, the apparatus may comprise a device 20 mounted on awheel-supported carriage 20a which is placed between the press 10 andthe strainer 7 to apply to the cords 2 a suitable adhesive before thecords are received between the sections 17a, 17b of the rubber orrubber-like layer. This adhesive applying device 20 is an optionalfeature of my apparatus and is shown in phantom lines in FIG. l.

The means for cooling the vulcanized layer 17a, 17b of a vulcanizablerubber or rubbery material may be installed directly in the vulcanizingpress 11 so that the finished belting B is cooled automatically as thepress 11 moves toward the strainer 7.

When the apparatus is to begin with the production of a new belting, allwheel-mounted devices (namely, the device 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) aremoved as far to the right as possible. A draw wire (not shown) which isformed with loops and which is connected with the takeup drum 14 is thenled through the strainer 13, through the tensioning arrangement 12 andthrough the presses 11, 10 to be connected with the forward ends of thecords which are assumed to extend through the slot or slots of thestrainer 7. The tensioning arrangement 12 and the strainer 13 are thenmoved to their operative positions to firmly engage the draw wire, andthe devices 10-14 are moved to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, tounwind predetermined lengths of cords 2 from the respective reels 1 andto provide room for movement of the press 10 in a direction toward thestrainer 7. The coating step (and eventually the vulcanizing step) isthen carried out in a manner as described above.

The advantage of the press 10 is that it forces the material of thelayer 17a, 17b between the adjacent cords 2 and completely embeds thecords in the rubber-like material. Furthermore, since the press 10subjects the layer takes place.

17a, 17b to a preliminary compression, the pressures prevailing in thevulcanizing press cannot displace the cords with respect to each otherwhereby the press insures that the cords remain in parallelism with eachother.

The press 10 is usually operated at a temperature of about 50 C. and ata pressure of between 20-60` atmospheres absolute pressure. Suchpressures insure that the material of the layer 17a, 17b is forced intoand fills the spaces between the adjacent cords, but no vulcanizationThe exact pressure depends on the diameters of the cords 2. Thevulcanizing press 11 is usually operated at a temperature of about 140C. and at a pressure of about 20 atmospheres absolute pressure.

Referring to FIGS. 5 lanrd 6, there is shown a modified apparatuswherein all parts analogous to or identical with those described inconnection with FIGS. 1 to 4 are identified by similar referencecharacters each preceded by the numeral 1.

The strainer 104 is assumed to be open and the tensioning rolls105a-105c permit the cords 102 to extend freely to and through the openstrainer 107. The strainers 104, 107, the rollers 103, 106 and thetensioning arrangement 105 are mounted on a common wheel-supportedcarriage 104a for movement along the guideways 116. The reels 101 forthe cords 102 are mounted in a stationary frame 101er.

The press 110 is movable between the carriage 10421 and a stationaryvulcanizing press 111. The tensioning arrangement 112 is assumed to bein locking or beltingengaging position and cooperates with themomentarily closed strainer 113 to hold the belting B against movement.The belting B extends toward and is collected on the drum 114. Thetensioning arrangement 112 and the strainer 113 are mounted on a commonwheel-supported carriage 11221 for travel along the guideways 116. Themeans for moving the carriages 104a, 112e along the guideways 116comprises stationary pulleys 121, 123, detlecting rollers 122, 124, andcables or chains 118. The ends of the cables 118 are connected with thecarriages 10451, 112g, respectively, and pass about the pulley 123,about the roller 124, about the roller 122 and about the pulley 121 inthat order.

The apparatus of FIGS. 5 fand 6 is operated as follows:

The strainer 104 is closed and the cables 118 are tensioned, e.g. bymoving the rollers 122, 124 in downward direction to move the carriage11241 to the left and to move the carriage 104e to the right whereby thecords 102 are subjected to a given tension which is thereupon equalizedor otherwise adjusted with great precision by the tensioning arrangement105, namely by the rolls 105b which move upwardly and engage therespective cords. The strainer 107 is then closed and the press 110 ismoved to the right to cover the cords with a layer consisting of rubberysections 117a, 117b and to thereby form a prefabricated flexible belt Bwhich extends between the vulcanizing press 111 and the left-hand sideof the press 110. As explained in connection with FIG. 1, the press 110preferably comprises means 11921, 119b for trimming the edges of theprefabricated belt B so that the latter is of uniform width.

In the next step, the press 110 is returned to the position of FIGS. 5and 6 and the pulley 121 is thereupon rotated in anticlockwise directionto advance the prefabricated belt B' through the stationary vulcanizingpress 111 and to transform the belt B' into finished belting B which issimultaneously collected on the drum 114. Since the strainers 107, 113and the tensioning arrangements 105, 112 clamp the belting and thecords, the carriage 104e is compelled to move toward the press 110.

When the carriage 104a is moved all the way to the press 110, theoperator releases the tensioning arrangements 105, 112 and opens thestrainers 104, 107, 113 so that the carriages 104:1, 112a may be movedto the right, that is, back to the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.During such movement of the carriages, the cords 102 remain stationarybecause the strainers are open and because the tensioning arrangementsare idle. The operation is then repeated by closing the strainers, bymoving the tensioning rollers 112B away from the rollers 112A, 112C andinto firm engagement with the belting B, by moving the carriage 112athrough a short distance to the left so as to subject the cords to agiven tension, by moving the tensioning rolls b into tension-adjustingengagement with the cords, by moving the press to the right, bysubsequently returning the press 110 to the left, and by moving thecarriages 104a, 112a to the left in order to advance the newly formedprefabricated belt B through the vulcanizing press 111.

It will be readily understood that the press 110 may remain stationaryand that the cords 102 may be advanced intermittently with respect tothe press 110 so that the coating and vulcanizing operations are carriedout in a simultaneous step. It is equally possible to replace the cables118 by a rigid frame which connects the carriages 104a, 112:1 formovement along the guideways 116.

The important difference between the apparatus of FIGS. 1-4 and 5-6 isthat the apparatus of FIGS. 1-4 comprises a reciprocable vulcanizingpress 11 whereas the apparatus yof FIGS. 5-6 comprises two tensioningarrangements 105, 112 which are reciprocable with respect to thestationary vulcanizing press 111. In other words, the press 11 moveswith respect to stationary cords 2 to complete a vulcanizing operation,Whereas the arrangements 105, 112 move a preselected length of cords 102through the stationary press 111.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without -omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint 'of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence -of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting of vulcanizablerubbery material which is reinforced by metallic cords, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, elongated guideways having a 4first and asecond end, a source Vof cords provided at said first end; take-up-means for the belting mounted for movement along said guideways towardand away from said source; first tensioning means for the cords providedbetween said take-up means and said source and adjacent to said source;second tensioning means provided between said first tensioning means andsaid take-up means and movable along said -guideways toward and awayfrom said first tensioning means, said rst and second tensioning meansadapted to tension the cords and said rst tensioning means comprisingmeans for individually tensioning the cords so as to subject the cordsto requisite tension; at least one grooved :member provided between saidlfirst and second tensioning means -for maintaining the cords inparallelism with each other; applicator means movable along saidguideways and located between said first and second tensioning means forapplying rubbery material to the cords when moving in a direction towardsaid first tensioning means so as to lproduce a prefabricated belt whilethe cords remain under tension; and vulcanizing means reciprocable alongsaid guideways between said second tensioning means and said applicatormeans for vulcanizing the rubbery material on the cords when movedtoward said first tensioning means so as to produce a finished beltingwhile the cords remain under tension, the finished beltmg passingthrough said second tensioning means and to said take-up mean-s.

2. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting of vulcanizablerubbery material which is reinforced by metallic cords, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, elongated guideways having a first and asecond end, a source of cords provided at said -tirst end; take-up meansfor the belting mounted for movement along said guideways toward andaway from said source; first tensioning means for the cords providedbetween said take-up means and said source and adjacent to said source;second tensioning means provided between said first tensiomng means andsaid take-up -means and movable along said guideways toward and awayfrom said first tensioning means, said first and second tensioning meansadapted to tension the cords and said first tensioning means comprisingmeans for individually tensioning the cords so as to subject the cordsto requisite tension; at least one grooved member provided between saidfirst and second tensioning means for maintaining the cords inparallelism with each other; applicator means movable along saidguideways and located between said first and second tensioning means forapplying rubbery material to the cords when moving 1n a direction towardsaid first tensioning means so as to produce a prefabricated belt whilethe cords remain under tension; vulcanizing means reciprocable alongsaid guideways between said :second tensioning :means and saidapplicator means for vulcanizing the rubbery material on the cords whenmoved toward said first tensioning means so as t-o transform theprefabricated lbelting into a finished belting, while the cords remainunder tension, the finished belting passing through said secondtensioning means and to said take-up means; and strainer means providedbetween said take-up means and said second tensioning means 'forreleasably clamping the finished belting.

3. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting of vulcanizablerubbery material which is reinforced by metallic cords, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, elongated guideways having a first and asecond end, a source of cords provided at said first end; take-up meansfor the -belting mounted for movement along said guideways toward andaway from said source; first tensioning means for the cords providedbetween said take-up means and said source and adjacent to .said source;second tensioning means provided between said first tensioning means andsaid take-up means and movable along said guideways toward and away fromsaid first tensioning means, said first and second tensioning meansadapted to tension the cords and said first tensioning mean-s comprising:means for individually tensioning the cords so as to subject the cordsto :requisite tension; at least one grooved member provided between saidfirst and second tensioning means for maintaining the cords inparallelism with each other; applicator means movable along said.guideways and located between said first and second tensioning meansfor applying rubbery material to the cords when moving in a directiontoward said first tensioning means so as to produce a prefabricated beltwhile the cords remain under tension, said applicator means comprisingmeans for trimming the longitudinal edges of the prefabricated belt; andvulcanizing means reciprocable along said guideways between said secondtensioning means and said applicator means `for vulcanizing the materialon the cords when moved toward said first tensioning means so as toproduce a finished belting while the cords remain under tension, thefinished belting passing through said second tensioning means and tosaid takeup means.

4. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting of vulcanizablerubbery material which is reinforced by metallic cords, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, elongated guideways having a first and asecond end, a source of cords provided at the first end of saidguideways; take-up means for the belting mounted for movement along saidguideways toward and away from said source; first tensioning means forthe cords provided between said take-up means and said source andadjacent to said source, said first tensioning means comprising twospaced groups of rolls and each group comprising two outer rolls and amedian roll for each cord, said median rolls movable with respect tosaid outer rolls for thereby varying the tension of the respectivecords; second tensioning means provided between said first tensioningmeans and said take-up means and movable along said guideways toward andaway from said first tensioning means, said first and second tensioningmeans adapted to tension the cords and said first tensioning meanscomprising means for individually tensioning the cords so as to subjectthe cords to requisite tension; at least one grooved member providedbetween said first and second tensioning means for maintaining the cordsin parallelism with each other; applicator means movable along saidguideways and located between said first and second tensioning means forapplying rubbery material to the cords when moving in a direction towardsaid first tensioning means so as to produce a prefabricated belt whilethe cords remain under tension; and vulcanizing means reciprocable alongsaid guideways between said second tensioning means and said applicatormeans for vulcanizing the material on the cords when moved toward saidfirst tensioning means so as to produce a finished belting while thecords remain under tension, the finished belting passing through saidsecond tensioning means and to said take-up means.

5. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting of vulcanizablerubbery material which is reinforced by metallic cords, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, elongated guideways having a first and asecond end, a source of cords provided at said first end; take-up meansfor the belting mounted for movement along said guideways toward andaway from said source; first tensioning means for the cords providedbetween said takeup means and said source and adjacent to said source;second tensioning means provided between said first tensioning means andsaid take-up means and movable along said guideways toward and away fromsaid first tensioning means, said first and second tensioning meansadapted to tension the cords and said first tensioning means comprisingmeans for individually tensioning the cords so as to subject the cordsto requisite tension; at least one grooved member provided between saidfirst and second tensioning means for maintaining the cords inparallelism with each other; applicator means movable along saidguideways and located between said first and second tensioning means forapplying rubbery material to the cords when moving in a direction towardsaid first tensioning means so as to produce a prefabricated belt whilethe cords remain under tension; vulcanizing means reciprocable alongsaid guideways between said second tensioning means and said applicatormeans for vulcanizing the material on the cords when moved toward saidfirst tensioning means so as to produce a finished belting while thecords remain under tension, the finished belting passing through saidsecond tensioning means and to said collecting means; and means forreciprocating said applicator means, said vulcanizing means, said secondtensioning means and said take-up means along said guideways.

6. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting of vulcanizablerubbery material which is reinforced by metallic cords, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, elongated guideways having a first and asecond end, a source of cords provided at said first end; take-up meansfor the belting mounted for movement along said guideways toward andaway from said source; first tensioning means for the cords providedbetween said takeup means and said source and adjacent to said source;second tensioning means provided between said first tensioning means andsaid take-up means and movable along said guideways toward and away fromsaid first tensioning means, said first and second tensioning meansadapted to tension the cords and said first tensioning means comprisingmeans for individually tensioning the cords so as to subject the cordsto requisite tension; at least one grooved member provided between saidfirst and second tensioning means for maintaining the cords inparallelism with each other; means reciprocable along said guidewaysbetween said first and second tensioning means for applying a layer ofadhesive to the cords; applicator means movable along said guideways andlocated between said second tensioning means and said adhesive applyingmeans for applying rubbery material to the cords with rubbery materialwhen moving in a direction toward said first tensioning means so as toproduce a prefabricated belt while the cords remain under tension; andvulcanizing means reciprocable along said guideways between said secondtensioning means and said applicator means for vulcanizing the materialon the cords when moved toward said first tensioning means so as toproduce a finished belting while the cords remain under tension, thefinished belting passing through said second tensioning means and tosaid take-up means.

7. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting of vulcanizablerubbery material Which is reinforced by metallic cords, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, spaced first and second tensioning means fortensioning the cords and for subjecting the cords to identical tension;means for maintaining the cords in parallelism with each other; meansreciprocable between said first and second tensioning means for applyingrubbery material to the cords while the cords remain under tension; andvulcanizing means reciprocable between said applicator means and one ofsaid tensioning means for vulcanizing the rubbery material while thecords remain under tension.

8. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting of vulcanizablerubbery material which is reinforced by metallic cords, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, spaced first and second tensioning means fortensioning the cords and for subjecting the cords to identical tension;means for maintaining the cords in parallelism with each other; adhesiveapplying means reciprocable between said first and second tensioningmeans for applying a layer of adhesive to the cords while the cordsremain under tension; means reciprocable between said adhesive applyingmeans and one of said tensioning means for applying rubbery material tothe `cords whil'e the cords remain under tension; and vulcanizing meansreciprocable between said applicator means and said one tensioning meansfor vulcanizing the rubbery material while the cords remain undertension.

9. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting of vulcanizablerubbery material which is reinforced by metallic cords, said apparatuscomprising, in combination, a source of cords; first tensioning meansprovided in the proximity of said source; lsecond tensioning means moredistant from said source than said first tensioning means andreciprocable in directions toward and from said first tensioning means,said first and second tensioning means adapted to tension the cords andsaid first tensioning means comprising means for adjusting the tensionof the cords; means provided intermediate said first and s'econdtensioning means for maintaining the cords in parallelism with eachother; means reciprocable between said first and second tensioning meansfor applying rubbery material to the cords while moving in a directionfrom said second tensioning means toward said first tensioning meanswhile the cords remain under tension; and vulcanizing means,reciprocable between said coating means and said second tensioning meansfor vulcanizing the rubbery material while moving in a direction fromsaid second tensioning means toward said first tensioning means andwhile the cords remain under tension.

10. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting ofvulcanizable rubbery material which is reinforced by metallic cords,said apparatus comprising, in combination, a source of cords; firsttensioning means provided in the proximity of said source; secondtensioning means more distant from said source than said firsttensioning means and reciprocable in directions toward and away fromsaid first tensioning means, said second tensioning means comprising apair of outer tensioning rollers and a median roller movable withrespect to said outer rollers for alternately relaxing and increasingthe tension of the cords, said rollers having axes perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction of the cords, said first and second tensioningmeans adapted to tension the cords so that the cords are stretched andsaid first tensioning means comprising means for adjusting the tensionof the cords; means provided intermediate said first and secondtensioning means for maintaining the cords in parallelism with eachother; means reciprocable between said first and second tensioning meansfor applying rubbery material to the stretched cords while moving in adirection from said second tensioning means toward said first tensioningmeans while the cords remain under tension; and vulcanizing meansreciprocable between said applicator means and said second tensioningmeans for vulcanizing the rubbery material while moving in a directionfrom said second tensioning means toward said first tensioning means andwhile the cords remain under tension.

11. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting ofvulcanizable rubbery material which is reinforced by metallic cords,said apparatus comprising, in combination, a source of cords; firsttensioning means provided in the proximity of said source; secondtensioning means more distant from said source than said firsttensioning means and reciprocable in directions toward and from saidfirst tensioning means, said first and second tensioning means adaptedto tension the cords so that the cords are stretched and said firsttensioning means comprising means for adjusting the tension of thecords; means reciprocable between said first and second tensioning meansfor applying rubbery material to the cords while moving in a directionfrom said second tensioning means toward said first tensioning means andwhile the cords remain under tension; at least one first grooved rollermeans provided adjacent to said first tensioning means and secondgrooved roller means connected with said applicator means formaintaining the cords in parallelism with each other; and vulcanizingmeans reciprocable between said applicator means and said secondtensioning means for vulcanizing the rubbery material while moving in adirection from said second tensioning means toward lsaid firsttensioning means and while the cords remain under tension.

12. An apparatus for the production of belting consisting ofVulcanizable rubbery material and of reinforcing cords in the rubberymaterial, said apparatus comprising, in combination, a pair of spacedtensioning arrangements adapted to maintain a plurality of reinforcingcords under tension so .that the cords are parallel with each other;belt producing means adapted to continuously furnish and to apply to thetensioned cords a rubbery material and to thereby form a belting uponapplication of rubbery material to the cords whi-le the cords remainsunder tension, said belt producing means comprising means forvulcanizing the rubbery material while the cords remain under tension;and means for moving said tensioning arrangements with respect to saidbelt producing means in the longitudinal direction of the cords whilethe rubbery material is continuously furnished and applied to the cordsand while the rubbery material already applied to the cords iscontinuously vulcanized.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,129,084 2/1915Gammeter 156-143 1,370,597 3/1921 Lambert 156--161 1,911,185 5/1933Gates 156--510 XR .2,740,459 3/ 1956 Kilborn et al. 145-494 XR 3,083,1303/1963 Strandquist 156--143 EARL M. BELGERT, Primary Examiner.

P. DIER, Assistant Examiner.

7. AN APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BELTING CONSISTING OF VALCANIZABLERUBBERY MATERIAL WHICH IS REINFORCED BY METALLIC CORDS, AND APPARATUSCOMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, SPACED FIRST AND SECOND TENSIONING MEANS FORTENSIONING THE CORDS AND FOR SUBJECTING THE CORDS TO IDENTICAL TENSION;MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE CORDS IN PARALLELISM WITH EACH OTHER; MEANSRECIPROCABLE BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND TENSIONING MEANS FOR APPLYINGRUBBERY MATERIAL TO THE CORD WHICH THE CORD REMAIN UNDER TENSION; ANDVALCANIZING MEANS RECIPROCABLE BETWEEN SAID APPLICATOR MEANS AND ONE OFSAID TENSIONING MEANS FOR VULCANIZING THE RUBBER MATERIAL WHILE THECORDS REMAIN UNDER TENSION.